Why Greenland Matters to the United States, and Why Some People Are Sceptical

8 January 2026

Paul Francis

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Greenland has become an increasingly prominent part of global geopolitical discussion, particularly in relation to the United States. On the surface, the interest can appear puzzling. Greenland has a small population, harsh conditions, and limited infrastructure. Yet for Washington, it represents one of the most strategically significant territories in the world.

Snow-covered mountains and rocky peaks rise above a deep blue sea, under a clear sky, creating a serene and majestic landscape.

At the same time, recent events elsewhere have led many observers to question whether security alone explains American interest in regions rich in natural resources. Greenland now sits at the intersection of strategic necessity and public scepticism.

Greenland’s strategic importance to US security

The primary and most consistently stated reason for US interest in Greenland is security.

Greenland occupies a crucial geographic position between North America and Europe. It sits along the shortest route for ballistic missiles travelling between Russia and the United States. This makes it essential for early warning systems and missile defence.

The US has maintained a military presence in Greenland since the Second World War. Today, Pituffik Space Base plays a key role in monitoring missile launches, tracking satellites, and supporting NATO defence architecture. These systems are designed to protect not only the United States but also its allies.

As Arctic ice continues to melt, the region is becoming more accessible to military and commercial activity. Russia has expanded its Arctic bases, and China has declared itself a near-Arctic state. From Washington’s perspective, maintaining influence in Greenland helps prevent rivals from gaining a foothold in a region that directly affects North Atlantic security.

The Arctic, climate change, and future competition

Climate change has transformed Greenland’s relevance. What was once largely inaccessible is now opening up.

New shipping routes could shorten trade paths between Asia, Europe, and North America. Scientific research, undersea cables, and surveillance infrastructure are all becoming more viable. Greenland’s location places it at the centre of these emerging routes.

For the United States, this makes Greenland less of a remote territory and more of a forward position in an increasingly contested region.

Red Mobil barrel secured with ropes on wood structure, against a cloudy sky. Blue pipes and rusty metal bar in background.

Oil and resource speculation as a secondary factor

While security dominates official policy discussions, resource speculation is often raised as an additional reason for interest in Greenland.

Greenland is believed to hold potential offshore oil and gas reserves, as well as deposits of rare earth elements, lithium, graphite, and other critical minerals. These materials are essential for electronics, renewable energy systems, and defence technologies.

It is important to note that Greenland currently restricts new oil and gas exploration licences, largely due to environmental concerns. Large-scale extraction remains difficult, expensive, and politically sensitive.

For the United States, oil is not a strategic necessity in Greenland. The country is already one of the world’s largest oil producers. However, critical minerals are a longer-term concern. The US remains heavily dependent on foreign supply chains, particularly from China, for many of these materials.

This makes Greenland attractive as a potential future partner rather than an immediate resource solution.

Why scepticism exists

Despite official explanations, scepticism persists, and not without reason.

In recent years, the United States has taken highly visible actions elsewhere that involved control over oil production and transport. These actions have reinforced a long-standing public perception that resource interests sometimes sit beneath security justifications.

The Iraq War remains a powerful reference point. Although the official rationale focused on weapons and security threats, the protection and control of oil fields became a defining feature of the conflict in the public imagination. That perception continues to shape how many people interpret US foreign policy today.

More recently, actions involving sanctions, tanker seizures, and control of oil revenues in other regions have revived these concerns. When military or economic pressure coincides with resource-rich territories, scepticism follows.

Against this backdrop, even legitimate security interests can be viewed through a lens of historical mistrust.

Greenland is not Iraq, but history shapes perception

Greenland differs significantly from past conflict zones. It is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, a NATO ally. The United States does not dispute Danish sovereignty and has repeatedly stated that Greenland’s future must be decided by its people.

US engagement in Greenland has focused on diplomacy, scientific cooperation, and defence partnerships rather than intervention. There has been no military conflict, no occupation, and no attempt to forcibly extract resources.

However, history matters. Public opinion is shaped not only by current actions but by patterns over time. When people see strategic interest combined with resource potential, they naturally draw comparisons.

Denmark’s role as a stabilising factor

Denmark plays a crucial role in shaping how Greenland is engaged internationally. As the sovereign state responsible for defence and foreign policy, Denmark ensures that US involvement occurs within established legal and diplomatic frameworks.

This partnership reduces the likelihood of unilateral action and helps keep Greenland’s development aligned with environmental standards and local governance.

The broader reality

Greenland’s importance to the United States is real, and it is primarily rooted in geography and defence. Resource speculation exists, but it is not the driving force behind current policy.

At the same time, scepticism is understandable. History has taught many people to question official narratives when strategic interests and natural resources overlap.

The truth lies in the tension between these two realities. Greenland matters because of where it is, what it enables, and what it may one day provide. How it is treated will determine whether it becomes a model of cooperation or another chapter in a long story of mistrust.

Greenland is not a prize to be taken, but a partner to be engaged. Whether that distinction holds in the long term will depend not just on policy statements, but on actions.

In a world shaped by climate change, great power competition, and historical memory, even legitimate interests must contend with the weight of the past.

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Sep 24, 2025
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The dot-com bubble of the 90s presented businesses with the option of moving part of their business online. Today, it’s not really an option to be online; it’s a necessity. And that applies to every business, whether you’re selling sustainable fashion garments or providing local building services. In this article, we’ll focus on those businesses that are entirely physical in the service they are providing, and outline why even the most physical companies must have a digital presence in today’s world.

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The Shifting Consumer Landscape

Whether we like it or not, the way customers shop has changed. A trip to the local high street or shopping centre is no longer the first point of call; even word of mouth isn’t as important as it once was. That’s because everything has gone online. Ecom stores have replaced brick and mortar and Google has replaced recommendations to a certain extent.

For businesses providing a physical service, such as plumbing or conservatory conversions, digital is where they’re often discovered. Whether that’s via a search engine, a social media ad or a blog post, digital has become the new playground for lead generation, even for services that are totally physical.

If you need a reason to embrace digital as a physical company, look no further than your competitors. Even the most traditional of businesses are active on social, implementing some form of SEO and putting time into their website. If this is something your competitors are doing while you’re still exclusively focusing on offline marketing channels, you’re losing ground.

You only need to look at some of the leading brands that have gone out of business during the physical revolution. Many have done so as a result of ignoring the importance of the online world.

Benefits of Going Digital

If you still need convincing that digital can be a profitable investment for an entirely physical company, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of going digital.

Reach

Ignoring online lead gen means your business is entirely reliant on channels such as word of mouth and footfall from physical stores. This massively localises your company and makes it very difficult to move into new geographical markets. Online marketing removes geographical barriers and allows you to reach every corner of the globe.

Customer Service

As a physical company, the service you provide your customers is essential and will ultimately determine whether or not customers return to you in the future, as well as if they recommend you to friends and family. Digital offers another place where you can offer five-star customer service, whether that’s responding to messages or adding a chatbot to your website.

Sales

While physical businesses and service providers may make most of their cash offline, digital can be used as a secondary sales channel to increase revenue. A great example of this would be a gym selling merchandise through its website.

Common Misconceptions

There are a few common misconceptions around the value of digital to businesses that operate offline.

Cost

Those who aren’t familiar with digital view it as a costly expense. In reality, digital channels have helped countless businesses to cut costs. It’s also worth pointing out that the digital world has become so accessible that the cost of taking a business online is cheaper than ever and will probably continue to drop. For a lead gen business, the cost of acquiring a customer through a digital ad could actually be lower than acquiring through a physical ad, and the sheer amount of online customers could easily see a business’s cost per lead drop significantly.

Customers

Many businesses assume that their customers aren’t online, whether that’s due to age, interests or another factor. In reality, everyone is online today. The days of older generations not being tech savvy have gone, and many over 60s are active on social media as well as other digital channels.

Complexity

Perhaps the biggest reason to avoid the digital world is the perceived complexity of it. While it can seem daunting to those who have limited experience, digital tools, courses, and tutorials make it a fairly seamless transition. There’s also a huge pool of young talent who can assist in this area. For small businesses with a limited budget, it may be worth exploring the option of working with apprentices or interns.

Final Thoughts

Businesses that generate sales offline may see the digital world as a risk. But it’s worth considering that the biggest risk could come in the form of not adapting to a digital-first world. As already mentioned, failing to keep up with the times has been the death of even multi-national brands in the last 20 years. For small businesses that are hesitant to take their business online, consider small ways you can adapt digitally and increase your online presence.